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Orlando Parker (PS Karlsruhe) Real Defense Doesn´t Show Up On The Stat Sheet

Orlando Parker is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his third professional season and second in Germany and first with PS Karlsruhe. He started his basketball career with Wagner (NCAA) in 2010 playing a total of 118 NCAA games. As a senior he played 26 games averaging 6.7ppg, 6.7rpg, FGP: 44.7%, FT: 62.0%. In 2014 he turned professional with UL Eagles Limerick (Ireland-Premier League) playing 17 games averaging 19.9ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 78.5%. Last season he played with Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 22.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 79.3%. He spoke to German Hoops after the huge double OT win against Rostock in the playoffs.
Orlando thanks for talking to German Hoops. 2017 is now in it´s third month. Did you make any news year resolutions or are you more the guy that doesn´t believe in that?

I sometimes just go with the flow and see where life takes me but I always set goals to accomplish.

How long did it take to digest the bitter 76-49 loss against the kids of FC Bayern Munich? How can a loss like that occur shortly before the playoffs?

I don’t consider anyone over 18 kids, and I definitely wouldn’t say they play like kids either. Really talented group. Not taking anything away from them but we were working on tactics for the Playoffs.

It was a tale of two seasons for PS Karlsruhe. After losing the first game to Frankfurt, you were unstoppable with a 10 game winning streak, but then up and down with a 6-6 record. What happened with this team from December until now?

We let some games slip away and lost our identity as a defensive team.

How much of a factor was the injury to German Deon Mcduffie during the up and down play? Would the team have had a few more wins with him in the lineup?

“We are not a deep team so if any of us miss a game it hurts our teams chances of pulling out games. Deon is a key factor for us”

The defense was pretty solid except for two loses against Leverkusen and Wurzburg. What tweaks will the team have to make to play successful defense consistently in the playoffs?

“We know what we have to do in order to win games and our defense is why we stop teams from scoring there average”

Do you feel as though teams figured you out a bit better and began to scout better the second time around especially how to contain you, Parker and Borekambi better during certain phases of the game?

“No. Not even close”

Which PS Karlsruhe player are you most proud of that has worked very hard and been the most improved this season?

“We all work hard”

Your playing a very solid consistent season. It seems like you had a few more higher scoring games in the first half, but do you feel that overall you played better basketball in the second half?

“I’m always improving my game to get better each day”

You picked up your defense in the second half of the season. Was it more about getting a feel for the new league or did you work on areas of your game more frequently that helped you raise your game?

“Real Defense doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, so I’m the type of player that doesn’t need steals or blocks to look like I’m playing defense. I’m more of guy who is stoping penetration, hard close outs, rotating”

You meet the Rostock SeaWolves in the first round of the playoffs. What kind of series can we await and what will be key to advancing? After the double OT win in game one one could say a wild series?

“It was the first game of the playoffs so the energy was there from both teams. Now we know what we need to do to put ourselves in the position to win”

What a wild game one between PS Karlsruhe and the Rostock SeaWolves. What did you learn about your team tonight that you didn´t know before?

“There was nothing to learn I believe in my team and the coaches to fight no matter the opponent for 40 plus minutes and that’s what we did. So I’m not surprised by our effort at all it was expected”

How tough was it watching in the last OT as you were out with your fifth foul?

“It was tough because we lost Deon and Dima as well but I had confidence in the guys that stepped up when we needed them”

A shocking news story in that top Pro B player Aaron Nelson has left the Dragons Rhondorf leaving a huge 23/12 void in their playdown journey. With teams like Lich, Leipzig and Nordlingen fighting to stay in the league, has Rhondorf secured their ticket down to the Regionalliga?

“I honestly don’t pay any attention to those teams so I have no idea whats going on with that situation”

Klay Thompson recently hit 60 points in 29 minutes touching the ball for only 90 seconds. Where does this performance rank with you?

“That maybe the 2nd greatest performance of all-time! The only performance that maybe wasbetter was TMac against the Spurs in the final seconds”

One always talks about Lebron and Curry, but one has to mention Russell Westbrook. He is averaging triple double stats at the moment. Is he stat wise the best player in the world right now?

“He’s definitely worth the talk, not the best player in the world but he’s definitely in the conversation”

Draymond Greene recently had a triple double without scoring 10 points or more. Why do you believe has it taken long for someone to do this?

“Players usually don’t like to do the little things and Draymond does the little things that makes useful, when a player can be effective without scoring the basketball in my opinion that’s the definition of an “key player”